Major Senior Support Program Launches August 7 With Income Cap of PLN 3,410

Starting August 7, the Polish government will launch a billion-zloty senior voucher program providing non-monetary daily care support for individuals over 65 earning up to PLN 3,410.

Agreement With the Municipality and Assessment of Self-Sufficiency: New Draft Regulation

To receive the senior voucher, concluding an agreement with the municipality will be necessary, and the scope of support will depend on the level of unsatisfied needs, according to a draft regulation published on Tuesday specifying the Senior Voucher Program.

The Act on Older Persons and Long-Term Care Coordination will enter into force on August 7. The draft regulation allowing the implementation of the Senior Voucher Program was prepared by the government plenipotentiary for senior policy, Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz.

Detailed Support Criteria: See What Care Will Help With

The draft indicates that qualification for the senior voucher will depend on the level of unmet needs in the senior’s daily life—related to movement, nutrition, dressing, maintaining personal hygiene, physiological activities, taking medications and monitoring health status, managing household affairs, maintaining physical and intellectual activity, contact with nature, and participation in social and cultural life.

The scope of support will be specified in an agreement concluded between the senior and the municipality. The aim is to precisely adjust the range of services to local conditions and the individual needs of the senior.

One Billion Zlotys From the State Budget: Financing Rules and Municipality Priority

The program will be financed from the state budget. A total of one billion zlotys will be allocated for this purpose in the years 2026-2028 (PLN 100 million in 2026, PLN 400 million in 2027, and PLN 500 million in 2028).

Funds will be transferred to municipalities in the form of targeted subsidies by voivodes. Priority in allocating funds will be given to municipalities where public care services have not been implemented so far, secondly to municipalities providing them for a maximum of 10 people, and subsequently to those with the highest projected growth rate in the number of seniors.

Municipalities will not be able to use senior vouchers to replace existing care services.

The regulation will enter into force 14 days after the day of promulgation.

Who Will Receive the Senior Voucher? Age, Income Threshold, and Form of Benefit

The senior voucher will be a non-monetary benefit granted for ad-hoc services lasting a maximum of two weeks, consisting of help in meeting daily living needs, such as assistance in dressing, preparing meals, maintaining cleanliness, as well as support in using health services or ensuring contact with the environment.

The voucher is to be available to anyone who is at least 65 years old, is a citizen of Poland, the European Union (or the European Economic Area, the Swiss Confederation, or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), and whose average income does not exceed PLN 3,410.

The program is to be introduced gradually, first in municipalities where public care services for seniors are not implemented.